May 21, 2021

Forecast: May 21st, 2021

By Calen Randall

Hey Huskies!

Still waiting for those clearing skies and upper 60s that were forecast for Seattle? Today is a great example of how microclimates vary throughout western Washington and the multitude of factors that can impact our local weather. A strong marine layer (cool and cloudy weather) has pushed in from the ocean keeping temperatures cooler, but expect things to warm up as the sun “burns off” our blanket of clouds. In the satellite image below you can see the marine layer along the coast that has forced its way into the Puget Sound.

Despite the mundane day of weather at the surface, the satellite picture is full of fascinating atmospheric features! Along the Cascades you can make out small puffy clouds caused by upward moving air due to the mountains. These convective clouds may lead to scattered thunderstorms along the Cascades this evening. You can see in the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Convective Outlook graphic that thunderstorms are likely in the Cascades today. There is a slight chance that some thunderstorms may materialize in the south Puget Sound regions as well.

If you talked to anyone in Port Angeles, Bellingham, or Vancouver, BC about the cloudy skies they might be confused. Today is a beautiful sunny day! Northwesterly flow has prevented the marine layer from taking hold in those regions and clear skies have remained. Check out the contrast between the view at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains and down on the Olympic coast at James Island.

I am sure many are looking forward to getting outside this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday should be nice for getting outside. Saturday will be the sunnier and warmer of the two, with a chance of breaking 70 degrees. Expect dry weather on Saturday, unless you are traveling into the Cascades where convective showers could bring brief downpours and hail depending on the location. Sunday will be slightly cooler with highs in the upper 60s projected with some showers passing through the Puget Sound in the afternoon.

Enjoy the weekend weather!

Reach forecaster Calen Randall at theuwdawgcast@uw.edu. Twitter: @Wx19Calen

NATIONWIDE TEMPERATURES	TODAY’S SATELLITE